Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi was established in 1991 by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, opened in 1992 and officially became a Wānanga in 1997. Awanuiārangi is one of only three institutions designated as Wānanga under the Education Act 1989. The establishment of Awanuiārangi was an important step that recognised the role of education in providing positive pathways for Māori development. Since that time the institution has offered a range of qualifications, from community education programmes, Certificates and Diplomas to Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees. The founding kaupapa is: Rukuhia te mātauranga ki tōna hōhonutanga me tōna whānuitanga. Pursue knowledge to its greatest depths and its broadest horizons. The name Awanuiārangi is linked to the whakapapa (genealogy) of the Mātaatua canoe, which landed at Whakatāne. Many tribal groups claim descent from the Mātaatua canoe and the ancestor Awanuiārangi, among them Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Whakatōhea, Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare, Ngāi te Rangi and Ngā Puhi. Although Awanuiārangi has strong links to the people of Mātaatua, its doors of learning have always been open to all iwi and all New Zealanders. Awanuiārangi also recognises that our aspirations are linked to and expressed by other indigenous people throughout the world. We acknowledge a common experience for tangata whenua and indigenous people everywhere. Awanuiārangi provides educational opportunities to all Māori, New Zealanders and indigenous students through campuses based in Whakatāne, Auckland (Tāmaki) and Northland (Te Tai Tokerau), as well as through marae and community networks across the country. Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi aims to be a quality provider of Māori programmes within the tertiary education sector in Aotearoa. Of importance is the vision to promote, grow and sustain Māori language, knowledge and culture in all its manifestations and with regard to tikanga Māori practice.